Nina Milne - Claimed By The Wealthy Magnate

One evening that changes everything!

After Lady Kaitlin Derwent was kidnapped as a child, she shut down her emotions and focused on becoming the perfect daughter her aristocratic family wanted. But one evening in Barcelona she meets a handsome stranger who makes her crave freedom...

Wealthy lawyer Daniel Harrington has never believed in love, but spending the evening with Kaitlin opens up new possibilities. Daniel is determined to show her that only by being true to herself can she be truly happy... If only she’ll let him show her the way!

“How about dinner? No strings. We’re two people alone in a vibrant city and I could do with some company.”

The words held a ring of truth and for a moment Kaitlin wondered what demons he wanted to hold at bay.

Temptation, warring with the final grains of common sense, pointed out that after all she had to eat.

Daniel’s shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I had a reservation at one of Barcelona’s best restaurants—I could try and resurrect it.”

Kaitlin frowned. “So you did have plans.”

“Let’s say my plans didn’t materialize.” Harshness underlaid the words and pain flashed across those blue eyes. Kaitlin hesitated, sensed that the man seated opposite her was hurting. Clearly he’d been stood up. Doubt unfurled—somehow that didn’t seem feasible. It wasn’t a scenario that played out. Ridiculous —yes he was good-looking and magnetic and... and... and... but she hardly knew him or his relationship background.

Yet more reasons to make her exit now.

But she didn’t want to. Never again would she have a chance like this. To be free, to shed the Lady Kaitlin persona. Because soon there would be the meeting with Prince Frederick of Lycander, a meeting where she needed to demonstrate her suitability to be a Lycander bride and then... Enough. She wouldn’t, couldn’t think of that now.

“Dinner sounds wonderful. A night of freedom before I step into a gilded cage.”

Claimed by the Wealthy Magnate

Nina Milne

www.millsandboon.co.uk

NINA MILNEhas always dreamed of writing for Mills & Boon Cherish—ever since as a child she played libraries with her mother’s stacks of Mills & Boon romances. On her way to this dream Nina acquired an English degree, a hero of her own, three gorgeous children and—somehow!—an accountancy qualification. She lives in Brighton and has filled her house with stacks of books—her very own real library.

To all things Venice!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text One evening that changes everything! After Lady Kaitlin Derwent was kidnapped as a child, she shut down her emotions and focused on becoming the perfect daughter her aristocratic family wanted. But one evening in Barcelona she meets a handsome stranger who makes her crave freedom... Wealthy lawyer Daniel Harrington has never believed in love, but spending the evening with Kaitlin opens up new possibilities. Daniel is determined to show her that only by being true to herself can she be truly happy... If only she’ll let him show her the way!

Introduction “How about dinner? No strings. We’re two people alone in a vibrant city and I could do with some company.” The words held a ring of truth and for a moment Kaitlin wondered what demons he wanted to hold at bay. Temptation, warring with the final grains of common sense, pointed out that after all she had to eat. Daniel’s shoulders lifted in a shrug. “I had a reservation at one of Barcelona’s best restaurants—I could try and resurrect it.” Kaitlin frowned. “So you did have plans.” “Let’s say my plans didn’t materialize.” Harshness underlaid the words and pain flashed across those blue eyes. Kaitlin hesitated, sensed that the man seated opposite her was hurting. Clearly he’d been stood up. Doubt unfurled—somehow that didn’t seem feasible. It wasn’t a scenario that played out. Ridiculous —yes he was good-looking and magnetic and... and... and... but she hardly knew him or his relationship background. Yet more reasons to make her exit now. But she didn’t want to. Never again would she have a chance like this. To be free, to shed the Lady Kaitlin persona. Because soon there would be the meeting with Prince Frederick of Lycander, a meeting where she needed to demonstrate her suitability to be a Lycander bride and then... Enough. She wouldn’t, couldn’t think of that now. “Dinner sounds wonderful. A night of freedom before I step into a gilded cage.”

Title Page Claimed by the Wealthy Magnate Nina Milne www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author NINA MILNE has always dreamed of writing for Mills & Boon Cherish—ever since as a child she played libraries with her mother’s stacks of Mills & Boon romances. On her way to this dream Nina acquired an English degree, a hero of her own, three gorgeous children and—somehow!—an accountancy qualification. She lives in Brighton and has filled her house with stacks of books—her very own real library.

Dedication To all things Venice!

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

EPILOGUE

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

LADY KAITLIN DERWENT, poster girl for the aristocracy, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Fairfax, stared at her nigh on unrecognisable reflection and wondered if she’d run mad... No, she knew she must have run mad.

There could be no other explanation for the fact that she was standing in this glitzy Barcelona hotel room, her Titian-red hair obscured under a bottleful of cheap blonde dye, her green eyes masked by baby-blue contact lenses, on a ‘Blonde Hair and Blue Eyes in Barcelona’ themed hen weekend for a woman she hadn’t seen for years.

‘You OK?’ Lynette Cooper, her childhood playmate and the bride-to-be, leant forward to peer more closely into the dressing table mirror and layered on another sheen of letterbox-red lipstick. ‘Are you sure you won’t come out tonight? We’re making cocktails and then we’re drinking cocktails.’

Kaitlin summoned a smile. ‘No, thank you. I appreciate it, but I’d be gatecrashing.’

She didn’t know any of the other guests; it had been a crazy impulse of the type she never, ever demonstrated to ask Lynette if she could join the hen group so that she could escape for a weekend. Travel as part of a group with a degree of anonymity and gain some time out, some space to think.

‘I will truly be happy chilling out here. I’ll order room service, watch a film and go to sleep.’

Lynette tipped her blonde head to one side. ‘You sure?’

‘I’m sure.’

‘OK.’ Lynette’s smile was genuine, and so reminiscent of her ten-year-old self that Kaitlin couldn’t help but smile back.

‘And, Lynette... Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome, Kaitlin. I know we’ve lost touch, but I’m glad I could help. Really.’

Lynette looked as though she wanted to say more, and Kaitlin knew she needed to forestall her. She wouldn’t explain the reasons for the breakdown of their friendship all those years ago—couldn’t revisit the memories of a trauma she had relegated to the surreal.

‘And I am really grateful, Lynette. Now, go and have fun. Don’t worry about me.’

Lynette stood, undecided, and then nodded. ‘OK. Be good. Call me if you change your mind and want to meet up with us.’